"Riptide" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell
Frank Lupo

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

3 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Three vietnam veterans (Nick Ryder, Cody Allen and Murray Bozinsky) now work as private eyes in sunny southern California...

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam Veteran | Detective | Helicopter | Private Detective

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Perry King	...	Cody Allen (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Joe Penny	...	Nick Ryder (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Thom Bray	...	Murray 'Boz' Bozinsky (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jack Ging	...	Lt. Ted Quinlan (24 episodes, 1984-1985)

Runtime:

60 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

This was one of three TV series partly influenced by the success of the theatrical movie Blue Thunder (1983). Like "Airwolf" (1984) on CBS and "Blue Thunder" (1984) on ABC, "Riptide" initially featured prominent use of a helicopter; although whereas those other two instances portrayed super-slick hi-tech choppers, the "Riptide" helicopter ('The Screaming Mimi') was clunky and old, and had trouble just staying in the sky. Prominant featuring of the helicopter was somewhat dropped later in favor of more standard private-eye car chases and such.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Boomtown: Insured by Smith & Wesson (#1.7)" (2002)

Riptide was our generation's Dragnet

Sure, there was Magnum PI, the A-Team, Remington Steele and Simon & Simon, but to get your PI fix you had to get with Riptide. No show during the PI era captured our imagination and entertained our wit better than Riptide. You know all those personal slave robots we were promised way back in the 1980's? It's here on Riptide. Ever wanted to be a freelance PI living on a yacht, driving a convertible vette', scoring with the Cali beach chicks and running a chopper around Southern California? It's all here. In this show we see the immortal and genius acting of Perry King. We see Joe Penny before he was Jake next to the Fatman. We see Thom Bray before he fell off the face of the earth or joined a cult and changed his name to Sunflower. This was absolutely my favorite show when I was 14, and when you're 14 your favorite show means something to you. You identify with it, you even kind of embody it. Riptide was for the discerning PI fan whereas A-Team was for moronic, mindless action-junkies infatuated with Mr. T. Only chicks watched Magnum, and Simon & Simon was but a mere blip on the PI radar. When will Hollywood realize I will never pay $75 for the Full House DVD but will gladly part with the funds for my childhood?